Thursday's Notebook

May 30, 1986

Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Syd Thrift denies he is trying to trade Tony Pena despite the All-Star catcher's speculation he may be dealt before the end of the season. ''He hasn't been hitting the way he can,'' Thrift said. ''But he's coming around, and he'll be all right. Don't say I'm trying to trade Tony Pena because I wouldn't want him to read that. It would only upset him.'' Pena, a career .300 hitter until slumping to .249 last season, is hitting .229 and has become increasingly frustrated not only at the plate but in playing for a last-place team. ''They may want to trade me and get some young players who they wouldn't have to pay as much as they pay me,'' said Pena, currently on the third year of a 4-year contract that could pay him nearly $4 million.